The SPE Library contains thousands of papers, presentations, journal briefs and recorded webinars from the best minds in the Plastics Industry. Spanning almost two decades, this collection of published research and development work in polymer science and plastics technology is a wealth of knowledge and information for anyone involved in plastics.
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Dealing with plastics waste is a major issue confronted by the society. Single use items from water bottles to plastic packaging are major contributors to the generation of plastics waste globally. Innovative upcycling technology can transform a plastic with limited applications and a brief useful life into a different, more-durable resin with expanded potential uses and an extended lifetime. In this way, upcycling can help strengthen the circular economy and can help reduce the impact of single-use plastic applications on the environment.
Using propritary de-polymerization of recycled polyester, SABIC has introduced a more sustainable polyester products family containing up to 60% recycled materials. This new PBT and its compounds have similar purity and properties as virgin resin. Hence they are drop in for many virgin PBT or compounded products.
Chemistry, properties, and application for these sustainable polyester materials will be discussed. In particular, the application of ocean bound based resin in Dell computer fan housing will be highlighted.
Simulation of the flow and extrudate deformation in two extrusion dies with gradually changing profile shape in successive sizers is presented. The change in the profile shape in sizers is used to employ a simpler die geometry and then deform the extrudate in sizers to the required final product shape. Effect of non-uniform exit velocity, cooling shrinkage and shape of sizer profiles on extrudate deformation is included in the simulation. The predicted extrudate shape and layer structure is found to match accurately with those in a coextruded product.
In the field of mechanical engineering technical elastomers are indispensable due to their material properties. They are often used to avoid load peaks and to influence the vibration behavior of dynamically loaded systems, because of their damping characteristics. Therefore, one field of research constitutes the damage accumulation and lifetime prediction.
This paper presents the validation of the virtual lifetime prediction model method, which was developed at the institute of product engineering at the University of Duisburg-Essen. The lifetime is defined as the number of load cycles till the global damage reaches the value 1. This damage is calculated by a failure criterion based on the change of a characteristic value like the dynamic stiffness degradation from a finite-element (FE) simulation. The virtual lifetime prediction method uses a combination of a damage-dependent material model (Yeoh-Model) and a nonlinear damage accumulation model (nlSAM). Both models are calibrated by means of experimental data from dynamically loaded elastomer components. The nlSAM computes the local damage for each finite element depending on material stresses and pre-damage. The dynamic stiffness degradation is a result of locally changed material properties in the FE simulation due to the damage of each element.
Finally, the lifetime prediction for unknown loads and different component geometries of the elastomer is carried out, which shows good agreement with the experimental data of the same material batch.
Due to complex viscoelastic nature of the polymers, it is challenging to process multicomponent structures with uniform layer thicknesses. Although multilayered structures have been processed in a broad array of polymer materials and formulated to service a wide range of applications, a clear understanding of the effects of viscosity matching on the uniformity of the layer periodicity is not well understood. Significant work on viscous encapsulation and secondary flow patterns in the die channels affecting the layer structures has been previously reported. However, further evaluation of these effects on wide range of materials in commercial coextrusion lines has been limited. In this paper, we look to extend the initial studies of rheology in multilayered materials via layer multiplication coextrusion approaches and demonstrate preliminary results on model systems that illustrate the effect of mismatched viscosity on coextrusion multilayered polymer materials systems.
In this paper a workflow is proposed for an enhanced fiber orientation prediction in injection molding of short fiber-reinforced thermoplastics. The workflow is easy-to-use, as the final fiber orientation prediction is integrated into the commercial software Moldflow®. For a given material with polymer matrix P and a volume fraction x of fibers, four steps have to be performed: 1) Generating a representative volume element (in the following, referred to as cell) with volume fraction x and mean fiber length, 2) Shearing of the cell using a mechanistic fiber simulation, 3) Calculating the transient fiber orientation tensor and fitting macroscopic parameters and 4) Performing the fiber orientation analysis with the optimized macroscopic parameters in Moldflow®. Based on experimental data, the pARD-RSC model was selected as macroscopic simulation model. It was implemented in Moldflow® via the Solver API feature. The enhanced workflow is validated at the example of two industrial applications with different polymer matrices and different fiber volume fractions. With the proposed workflow, we observe equal or higher accuracy of fiber orientation estimation in comparison to Moldflow® fiber orientation models RSC and MRD.
Major brands and retailers have made various pledges to have recyclable plastic packaging by various targets dates. However, most recyclable solutions are not drop in replacements for existing packaging. Also, it’s not enough for the package to be reprocessable to be commercially recyclable other elements must also be in place. So, what does it take to have a commercially recyclable package and how do we get there?
Bag-in-Box Liquid Packaging Solutions Case Study: Using systematic troubleshooting methodology to identify and eliminate the root cause of liquid packaging leaker defects, a significant improvement in tear strength and flexcrack resistance was observed when coex split nylon film is manufactured with downward water quench film technology.
Bag-in-Box Liquid Packaging Solutions Case Study: Using systematic troubleshooting methodology to identify and eliminate the root cause of liquid packaging leaker defects, a significant improvement in tear strength and flexcrack resistance was observed when coex split nylon film is manufactured with downward water quench film technology.
At P&G, environmental sustainability is embedded in how we do business. We have a responsibility to make the world better — through the products we create and the positive impact our brands and Company can have in communities worldwide. We’ve established ambitious goals to minimize our environmental footprint, to innovate with the best and safest ingredients from both science and nature, and to create products that make responsible consumption irresistible for people everywhere. This tutorial will provide an overview of P&G’s environmental sustainability programs including an in-depth discussion of P&G’s polyolefin recycling efforts.
An overview of the ASTM will be presented. Topics covered will include a brief background on the ASTM and the needs for standards. The structure of ASTM committees will be discussed and their role in developing and approving new standards. The various types of standards (Methods, Guides, Specifications etc.) will be shown and a ‘walk-through’ of a typical standard highlighting the various sections and the critical parameters that the user needs to be aware of when developing tests to a specific standard. The Proficiency Testing Program (PTP) and training offerings from ASTM will be shown and lastly there will be a brief look at other national and international standards with emphasize on ISO.
Single use plastics remain under fire from the public, but do they deserve the hate? Single use plastics remain the most sustainable option in many cases. Improving the end-of-life options for single use plastics and polyolefins in particular, can do greatly to improve the sustainability of these plastics and perhaps lessen the ire of the public. Several options have emerged for chemically recycling polymers that until now have remained "unrecyclable". This presentation is a broad overview of chemical recycling options available to plastics, with a particular focus on sustainability and single use plastics. Technology options, economics, drivers, as well as issues for commercialization are discussed. The data presented is supported by recent reports available for subscription.
In 2014, Sasol made the FID to build a world scale chemicals complex in Lake Charles, adjacent to our current facilities, that would target a global customer base. This presentation delves into Sasol as a company and the rationale behind the investments in the US, focusing specifically on Polyethylene. We will explore the strategy Sasol is executing to reach a global customer base while at the same time addressing how the current oversupply of Polyethylene is changing the global but also domestic supply and pricing dynamics. The world, in essence, is now flat!
Delamination in coatings and multilayered polymeric sheets and films, which compromises the mechanical integrity and intended functionalities, are commonly found in commercial products. Known acceptable approaches, such as the double-cantilever-beam test, for quantifying adhesive strength in commercial coating and laminated products are difficult to implement. The practical ASTM D3359 and ISO 2409 crosshatch-cut and tape-pull standards are too crude and gives inconsistent results. In this presentation, two new test methodologies have been developed for quantitative determination of interfacial adhesion in coatings, semi-rigid sheets, and soft multi-layer polymeric films. These new test methods involve the utilization of a highly instrumented machine to perform the tests, followed by finite element methods modeling to obtain the associated stress magnitude for determining the interfacial strength in coatings, semi-rigid laminates, and soft multilayer films. Consequently, fundamental structure-property relationship can be established based on commercial products. Examples of success based on a few commercial coatings and polymeric laminates will be presented.
By the end of the 1980s, the combination of phenolic antioxidants and phosphite based melt processing stabilizers had been firmly established as the traditional cornerstones of a representative stabilization system for polyolefins. Even so, there was still room for improvement. Accordingly, over the next thirty years, an enormous amount of work was done to continue developing new stabilizer chemistries, and to further advance the frontiers of polymer stabilization. An overview of selected products will be provided, along with examples of how some of these products became unique solutions to help polyolefins continue advancing as the preferred material of choice in the plastics industry. Most recently, we have been exploring novel approaches to use our BASF Antioxidant technology platform to further enable the goals of “Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle."
The paper will study the performance for a series of fluorinated thermoplastic polymer process aids (PPA) in different LLDPE polymers with varying melt index from fractional melt to 3.6 dg/minute. The study compares results for fluorinated thermoplastic PPAs of different molecular structure in LLDPE and will help in the understanding of how the variation of LLDPE Melt Index (MI) can lead to selection of the preferred PPA for optimum processing. The study utilizes a flat-die extrusion testing method to evaluate key performance results such as speed of melt fracture elimination, speed and amount of pressure reduction, other observations, and how these performance enhancements vary depending on the MI of the LLDPE.
Phosphites are widely used to improve the thermal stability of polymers during melt processing. The performance of a phosphite is related to the percent of phosphorus in the molecule, higher levels of phosphorus result in increased melt flow stability. Dover Chemical has previously introduced a polymeric phosphite that has many benefits, such as good process stability, excellent color retention during melt processing and aging, low migration, no compatibility or plate-out issues and unique melt fracture synergy with polymeric process aids. A new polymeric phosphite will be introduced in this paper, that has the same beneficial properties, but with a 50% higher phosphorus level. This presentation will examine the performance of this second generation high performance liquid polymeric phosphite.
Plastic Additives can be used in sensitive applications such as food contact and/or water pipes. Supplying these products into the global marketplace requires that standards and practices must be established that can assure the products are of a purity suitable for the intended use. Global regulations supply the requirements for assessing the safety of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS). Since many plastic additives undergo chemical transformations as they perform their functions during plastic fabrication and use, identification and evaluation of these substances and Good Manufacturing Practice requirements for plastic additives during synthesis and blending have become more explicit. NIAS that originate from various sources must be assessed and controlled. We will share BASF’s programs to identify and mitigate risks in this area to ensure safe products and our commitment to responsible care.
Utilization of plastics is expanding in the course of the development of compounding and additivation technologies for a light weight solution in automotive, insulative and advanced design in E&E application. Among plastics, polyolefin in particular, polypropylene is one of the key materials from the standpoint of well-balanced physical/mechanical properties and cost. Glass-reinforced polypropylene (GFPP) and Talc-filled PP are already being used in these application to replace engineering plastics and metals. These compounds are used in structural components that require high levels of stiffness, strength and heat resistance, predominantly within automotive, appliance and furniture applications. However, it is well known that polyolefins degrade rapidly by auto-oxidation reaction under extreme conditions. There are also disadvantages to polypropylene by filling glass fiber, such as increase of brittleness and decrease in flowability. In this paper, the contribution of the additives in GFPP is explained. Against the severe processing temperature of GFPP, a combination of antioxidants showed remarkable stability. Nucleating agents can improve the mechanical properties, resulting in weight reduction of the polypropylene composites and the reduction of cycle time. By the use of specific NA, data suggests that the amount glass fiber could be reduced while maintaining the compound’s mechanical properties, which will contribute to weight reduction. Additionally, the flame retardancy which could be achieved by an intumescent type flame retardant (FR) in GFPP will also be discussed.
Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most produced thermoplastic polymers, offering excellent physical properties, good processability, and low cost. The performance of this material is contingent on its semicrystalline structure. One common method to enhance the crystallization rate is the addition of nucleating agents. Sorbitol compounds, in particular, have proved effective, at low concentrations, at improving both mechanical and optical properties while shortening processing times. Other additives have widespread use to facilitate processing and prevent polymer degradation. For instance, fatty acids and antioxidants are frequently compounded with PP. However, the interactions between the different additives are generally unknown, and may yield antagonistic interactions, nucleator deactivation, and inferior properties. We studied the synergistic and antagonistic interactions between 1,2,3-trideoxy-4,6:5,7-bis-O-[(4-propylphenyl)methylene]-nonitol (TBPMN) and four additives (processing aids and antioxidants). We showed improved crystallization temperature (Tc) in presence of the antioxidants, while calcium stearate was found to inhibit nucleator activity. The performance of TBPMN in presence of mono-glycerides was found to highly depend on the processing conditions. From 1H NMR, and FTIR analysis, we posit that hydrogen bonding and/or oxidation of the nucleator took place with these additives, and inhibited the network formation in the polymer matrix. The method of addition of nucleators and other additives to polypropylenes is an important parameter to achieving the best performance in the final product.
Kim McLoughlin Senior Research Engineer, Global Materials Science Braskem
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Kim drives technology programs at Braskem to develop advanced polyolefins with improved recyclability and sustainability. As Principal Investigator on a REMADE-funded collaboration, Kim leads a diverse industry-academic team that is developing a process to recycle elastomers as secondary feedstock. Kim has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Cornell. She is an inventor on more than 25 patents and applications for novel polyolefin technologies. Kim is on the Board of Directors of SPE’s Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division, where she has served as Education Chair and Councilor.
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Gamini has a BS and PhD from Purdue University in Materials Engineering and Sustainability. He joined Penn State as a Post Doctorate Scholar in 2020 prior to his professorship appointment. He works closely with PA plastics manufacturers to implement sustainability programs in their plants.
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Tom Giovannetti holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Tulsa and for the last 26 years has worked for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company. Tom started his plastics career by designing various injection molded products for the chemical industry including explosion proof plugs and receptacles, panel boards and detonation arrestors for 24 inch pipelines. Tom also holds a patent for design of a polyphenylene sulfide sleeve in a nylon coolant cross-over of an air intake manifold and is a Certified Plastic Technologist through the Society of Plastic Engineers. Tom serves on the Oklahoma Section Board as Councilor, is also the past president of the local Oklahoma SPE Section, and as well serves on the SPE Injection Molding Division board.
Joseph Lawrence, Ph.D. Senior Director and Research Professor University of Toledo
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Dr. Joseph Lawrence is a Research Professor and Senior Director of the Polymer Institute and the Center for Materials and Sensor Characterization at the University of Toledo. He is a Chemical Engineer by training and after working in the process industry, he has been engaged in polymers and composites research for 18+ years. In the Polymer Institute he leads research on renewably sourced polymers, plastics recycling, and additive manufacturing. He is also the lead investigator of the Polyesters and Barrier Materials Research Consortium funded by industry. Dr. Lawrence has advised 20 graduate students, mentored 8 staff scientists and several undergraduate students. He is a peer reviewer in several journals, has authored 30+ peer-reviewed publications and serves on the board of the Injection Molding Division of SPE.
Matt Hammernik Northeast Account Manager Hasco America
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Matt Hammernik serves as Hasco America’s Northeast Area Account Manager covering the states Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. He started with Hasco America at the beginning of March 2022. Matt started in the Injection Mold Industry roughly 10 years ago as an estimator quoting injection mold base steel, components and machining. He advanced into outside sales and has been serving molders, mold builders and mold makers for about 7 years.
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Any article that is cited in another manuscript or other work is required to use the correct reference style. Below is an example of the reference style for SPE articles:
Brown, H. L. and Jones, D. H. 2016, May.
"Insert title of paper here in quotes,"
ANTEC 2016 - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA May 23-25, 2016. [On-line].
Society of Plastics Engineers, ISBN: 123-0-1234567-8-9, pp. 000-000.
Available: www.4spe.org.
Note: if there are more than three authors you may use the first author's name and et al. EG Brown, H. L. et al.
